1. 2 Look who’s cooking with gas 
2. 3 July 31: Bloomberg and Romney
3. 4 Meet Mitt Romney, right-wing parrot 
4. 5 New York’s gun battle 
5. 6 Self hurt 
6. 7 Where projects go to die 
7. 8 July 30: Gun laws, Con Ed and MetroCards
8. 9 Busted: Mr. Pfeiffer and the White House blog
9. 10 Park privatization elsewhere 

• Previous
• Blog home

Comments

• Staff
• Contributor

• RicardoFloresMagon31 July 2012 4:00PM

  Well, that sounds like a well-oiled smooth-running campaign…

• • Recommend? (100)
  • Respond (0)
  • Report
  • Share

• marwil31 July 2012 4:01PM

  and again blamed the media for writing about his gaffes rather than the US economy or the threat of a nuclear-armed Iran.

  Err…Mittens, YOU went on this trip to establish foreign policy credentials. Your screwups with regard to same are fair game. Your complaints are with your own goofs, not with the press who report them.

• • Recommend? (209)
  • Respond (1)
  • Report
  • Share

• normko31 July 2012 4:02PM

  The problem with lashing out against the media is that, sadly, it will work as a tactic. The 30% of people who are the hard core conservative, lockstep, zombies will buy it.

  Kudos to the some of the press for having the backbone to try to ask questions. There’s a refreshing development.

• • Recommend? (83)
  • Respond (2)
  • Report
  • Share

• RichardCramium31 July 2012 4:09PM

  Romney is a fucking moron! If he wins the USA is DOOMED!!!!

• • Recommend? (152)
  • Respond (2)
  • Report
  • Share

• gruniadreader66631 July 2012 4:09PM

  Mitt Romney must rank as the world most dangerous man, there may be many more evil than he, but his unique blend of incompetence, stupidity and love of aggression (be that in capitalism or diplomacy) combined with the fact he really could gain power means the world has been in such danger since Stalin was in power.

• • Recommend? (140)
  • Respond (1)
  • Report
  • Share

• SiobhanNIB31 July 2012 4:10PM

  In fairness, it was a solemn event: Romney had probably just finished posthumously baptising the dead Poles commemorated there.

• • Recommend? (163)
  • Respond (0)
  • Report
  • Share

• wmtownley31 July 2012 4:29PM

  “And I realize that there will be some in the Fourth Estate, or whichever estate, who are far more interested in finding something to write about that is unrelated to the economy, to geopolitics, to the threat of war, to the reality of conflict in Afghanistan today, to a nuclearization of Iran,” Romney said, according to a transcript of the interview that aired on Tuesday morning.”
  I know this may seem too difficult to comprehend for those whose comments are merely invectives, but, Romney is correct. Where is the coverage of the fact that more Americans are in living poverty than since the 1960s? Or that US Troop Deaths in Afghanistan Under Obama Surpass 1,000: Two-Thirds of US Casualties in War (http://www.theblaze.com/stories/us-troop-deaths-in-afghanistan-under-obama-surpass-1000-two-thirds-of-us-casualties-in-war/). Or the economy grew at a sluggish 1.5% the second quarter.
  Romney’s comments in England may not have been politic, but he has no responsibility to be a cheerleader for the British Government’s handling of the Olympics. Press ought to conduct themselves in a responsible manner instead of whining…

• • Recommend? (7)
  • Respond (3)
  • Report
  • Share

• EnviroStudent31 July 2012 4:29PM

  Lashing out at the media for your ineptitude is soooooooo 2008.

• • Recommend? (40)
  • Respond (0)
  • Report
  • Share

• DIPSET31 July 2012 4:29PM

  “And I realize that there will be some in the Fourth Estate, or whichever estate, who are far more interested in finding something to write about that is unrelated to the economy, to geopolitics, to the threat of war, to the reality of conflict in Afghanistan today, to a nuclearization of Iran,” Romney said, according to a transcript of the interview that aired on Tuesday morning.
  And he said this while talking to……. er, FoxNews!! hahahahahahahahaha…

  On a lighter note…
  “Hookers in Times Square, God bless ‘em, are offering a Mitt Romney Special. For an extra $20 they’ll change positions” – David Letterman

• • Recommend? (86)
  • Respond (0)
  • Report
  • Share

• MikeN31 July 2012 4:30PM

  Sorry, Mitt.

  You don’t get to go abroad to draw attention to yourself and then get mad when you draw attention to yourself.

• • Recommend? (127)
  • Respond (0)
  • Report
  • Share

• Americafirst31 July 2012 4:35PM

  It’s sad indeed, but the electorate, or at least those who will be allowed to vote, won’t care a fig about Mitten’s contretemps with the press. In fact, bashing the ‘biased, liberal’ media gets votes. No one should be surprised when Mittens becomes president and must obey a Republican Congress.

• • Recommend? (11)
  • Respond (0)
  • Report
  • Share

• HappyPal31 July 2012 4:35PM

  I don’t think I’ve ever heard the phrases “Kiss my ass” and “Show some respect” used together like that. What a class act Romney and his aides are, aren’t they?

• • Recommend? (142)
  • Respond (0)
  • Report
  • Share

• Cheryl Llera31 July 2012 4:36PM

  The American voter has to pick a poison: Romney or Obama. I am voting for Green Party candidate Jill Stein, so don’t blame me!

• • Recommend? (37)
  • Respond (3)
  • Report
  • Share

• BobDelaware31 July 2012 4:39PM

  Romney appears to be taking a page from Sarah Palin’s campaign, blaming the media for his uninformed and ill-advised statements.

• • Recommend? (100)
  • Respond (0)
  • Report
  • Share

• Americafirst31 July 2012 4:40PM
  Response to RichardCramium, 31 July 2012 4:09PM

  Doubly doomed if he must obey Republican majorities in Congress.

• • Recommend? (14)
  • Respond (0)
  • Report
  • Share

• MockingbirdGirl31 July 2012 4:41PM
  Response to normko, 31 July 2012 4:02PM

  The problem with lashing out against the media is that, sadly, it will work as a tactic. The 30% of people who are the hard core conservative, lockstep, zombies will buy it.

  The hard-core conservatives are not in play in this election — they’re already voting for Romney. The more tone-deaf and arrogant his campaign seems, the more it benefits Obama’s chances with independent voters who can be swayed.

• • Recommend? (30)
  • Respond (0)
  • Report
  • Share

• KoryA2531 July 2012 4:42PM
  Response to RichardCramium, 31 July 2012 4:09PM

  Wont change anything, nothing gets through congress nowadays. Besides, Romney is a closet moderate. The closet also has a frosted glass sliding door. We know he’s in there, we’re just trying to ignore it for now.

• • Recommend? (37)
  • Respond (0)
  • Report
  • Share

• AVoiceFromAmerica31 July 2012 4:42PM

  Mr Romney undertook his overseas trip to help us voters make an easier decision whether to vote for him or for Mr Obama.

  Thank you, Mr Romney, for removing every scintilla of doubt in my mind regarding your lack of suitability for the office of President of the United States.

• • Recommend? (159)
  • Respond (0)
  • Report
  • Share

• ulthur31 July 2012 4:44PM

  Romney is crass – that is it. I believe at the beginning of his trip (apt title) he, as is normal, said he would not criticise the President – then did. He insulted every Arab. Has he read ever, a Gisha report on how the Gaza Strip tries to earn money. He decided Jerusalem was the capital of Israel. Who the hell gave this cretin the right to make decisions like that? I would rather see Eisenhauer killing off capturd soldiers, or Bush destroying Iraq than letting this complete idiot loose as a President.
  And no Romney before you open your mouth again, every time an athlete representing China beats an American, they did not use dope.

• • Recommend? (65)
  • Respond (1)
  • Report
  • Share

• tigerm31 July 2012 4:47PM

  If you drag an entourage of press across several countries and avoid speaking to them, then chances are they won’t do you many favors.
  But then again what can Romney do? Grant the press interviews? The interviews Romney has granted haven’t been good.

• • Recommend? (40)
  • Respond (1)
  • Report
  • Share

• gwpriester31 July 2012 4:51PM

  As I posted yesterday, we need to stop referring to Mitt as the “presumptive Republican candidate” and start referring to Mitt as the “Presumptuous” Republican candidate.

  The guy is so completely deluded.

• • Recommend? (42)
  • Respond (0)
  • Report
  • Share

• QueenVictoria31 July 2012 4:53PM

  I guess the appropriate etiquette at a holy site is to start telling people to kiss their a@3. Romney is a light to the world.

• • Recommend? (17)
  • Respond (0)
  • Report
  • Share

• mrsunburn31 July 2012 4:54PM

  I know that this is a live blog so it’s a little informal, but the tone is as rhetorically charged as a Fox News piece.

• • Recommend? (2)
  • Respond (1)
  • Report
  • Share

• thatsthefactjack31 July 2012 4:56PM
  Response to Cheryl Llera, 31 July 2012 4:36PM

  I’m writing in Hillary.

• • Recommend? (1)
  • Respond (0)
  • Report
  • Share

• thatsthefactjack31 July 2012 4:57PM

  this is all a huge waste of time and money. mitt has zero chance, I don’t care what some bs poll says.

  http://houndthepress.com/blogs/the-trouble-with-mitt/200/

• • Recommend? (6)
  • Respond (0)
  • Report
  • Share

• BigAndDaft31 July 2012 4:59PM

  Just when you thought George W was as bad as it could get – they roll out a new and improved fool.

• • Recommend? (119)
  • Respond (2)
  • Report
  • Share

• Daithi31 July 2012 5:00PM

  You see, apologising is why I find both the politician and aide repulsive.
  They should have stuck to their guns and phoned the reporter to shove it again.

  None of them have any balls.

• • Recommend? (4)
  • Respond (0)
  • Report
  • Share

• hugh7931 July 2012 5:00PM

  none of this matters really, until citizens switch off their TVs so they aren’t constantly mindfucked by superpac lies it’ll go to the guy with the biggest wallet. democracy? hardly.

• • Recommend? (14)
  • Respond (1)
  • Report
  • Share

• thatsthefactjack31 July 2012 5:00PM
  Response to mrsunburn, 31 July 2012 4:54PM

  but it’s ok when anyone else does it.

• • Recommend? (1)
  • Respond (0)
  • Report
  • Share

• Pethyboy31 July 2012 5:00PM

  Abe Lincoln, A republican of English ancestry, once said ‘it is better to remain silent and risk being thought a fool, than open your mouth and remove all doubt.”

• • Recommend? (75)
  • Respond (0)
  • Report
  • Share

• OutfieldDan31 July 2012 5:01PM

  Geez, I guess the Guardian is far left. What happened to some sort of balance? The attacks on Mitt Romney are disingenuous at best. It’s too bad the English press got it’s panties all in a wad about the honest remarks about security that were everywhere in the media anyway. It’s too bad the Guardian is all upset because Romney genuinely supports Israel, wants the US embassy moved to Jerusalem and compares Israel’s strong economy to weak Muslim economic progress. It’s too bad that the Guardian doesn’t report that Romney’s remarks to Poland are all about freedom and democracy.

  Romney is being genuine with his remarks. He’s a breath of fresh air compared to Barack Obama who cannot lead, believes in appeasment, and is fearful of hurting the feelings of the world’s worst nations.

• • Recommend? (3)
  • Respond (3)
  • Report
  • Share

• circuit31 July 2012 5:03PM

  The US electorate has just missed out on one of the most viable chances for an alternative to its two-party system status quo. Now it’s just left with Corporate lackey ‘A’, or disaster. Rome is burning down.

• • Recommend? (0)
  • Respond (0)
  • Report
  • Share

• wacobloke31 July 2012 5:04PM

  When George W. Bush decided (towards the end of his Executive reign) to stop talking to members of the US media or otherwise permitting himself to be questioned by the Great Unwashed, he enlisted (commandeered?) the willing stooges running the VFW and The American Legion–who supplied hundreds of flipper-slappers and urk-urk-ers to appear and and on cue applaud his every word or “pronouncement”.

  When President Bush decided to take that cowardly course and to use those willing stooges, he was at least the elected Commander and Chief of the US military, and had, mostly (or, maybe”almost”), served a full tour as a US military service person.

  Now we have the embarrassing spectacle of a private US citizen–one who avoided US military service during wartime by going to France, wearing a dorky white shirt, riding a bicycle and and bugging the French folk relentlessly about his “religion”–now getting all huffy because he isn’t allowed to get away with the same non-communicative cowardly path as that taken by US President George W. Bush.

  Again, his was (and is) simply a US private citizen, folks, one who is embarrassing us once again via his rich-twit arrogance and Bushian-cowardly behaviors.

  Note to Willard: you haven’t been crowned yet, and, as the son of a Father who was the first officer into two different slave labor camps located in N. Germany–where he discovered many starving and almost worked-to-death Poles (some still alive who had been part of the Polish military), I find the attempt by the usual US right wing stooges to sanctify or “defend” what they apparently want to portray as quasi-”official” “appearance” at what is a memorial to Poles lost in war to be a complete and utter obscenity–one far worse and more egregious than the sanctimonious obscenity that was revealed in the words and actions of Willard’s shill Gorka.

  I would think that the US VFW and American Legion would find their collective cojones and weigh in and protest Willard’s obscene and embarrassing cowardice and his presence at that site, but, I ain’t holdin’ my breath.

• • Recommend? (16)
  • Respond (1)
  • Report
  • Share

• OutfieldDan31 July 2012 5:06PM
  Response to ulthur, 31 July 2012 4:44PM

  This comment was removed by a moderator because it didn’t abide by our community standards. Replies may also be deleted. For more detail see our FAQs.

• blackshadow31 July 2012 5:06PM

  GOP PR “machine” in the house already, clearly cacking itself! Romney is a shallow mormon…

• • Recommend? (8)
  • Respond (0)
  • Report
  • Share

• blackshadow31 July 2012 5:07PM

  …moron!

• • Recommend? (11)
  • Respond (0)
  • Report
  • Share

• TechAholic31 July 2012 5:08PM

  If the aide did criticise the media I can only liken it to fixing the cut on your hand by chopping off your arm; the initial problem is gone to be replaced by an even bigger problem.

  I can only hope Americans don’t vote him into office.

• • Recommend? (4)
  • Respond (0)
  • Report
  • Share

• BlairM31 July 2012 5:10PM

  Mitt Romney and his staff lash out at US media coverage of his inept, error-strewn overseas trip

  What errors? You could argue he was impolite to the British on the eve of his trip, but otherwise I am not sure that he made any mistakes. Unless you are some sort of Leftist who believes the Anglo American alliance is evil and that Israel is even more evil, in which case he must have disappointed you terribly.

  We have a fellow in the White House right now who has been inept and error-strewn for three and a half years now, so I think Romney will be a vast improvement.

  Mitt Romney has not taken questions from the press since answering three of them outside 10 Downing St on Thursday. But then it’s not like he’s running for office or anything.

  I can’t remember the last time the press asked Obama any serious questions, let alone any that he answered. Anything of substance seems to be put before Jay Carney, who simply whines, bitches and weasels his way through it.

• • Recommend? (36)
  • Respond (3)
  • Report
  • Share

• webinfront31 July 2012 5:11PM

  Multi-millionaire businessman makes crap politician shocker

• • Recommend? (21)
  • Respond (0)
  • Report
  • Share

• chris02031 July 2012 5:12PM

  The guy is an idiot God help you USA (and the rest of us) if he wins

• • Recommend? (47)
  • Respond (0)
  • Report
  • Share

• pwayne31 July 2012 5:12PM

  As an American I expect the press to report what Romney says……he is not qualified to be our President…..he lies about everything. We are supposed to trust him when he is hiding his tax returns, keeping us in the dark on his tax evasion by using overseas accounts…..he lies about being a Christian….he lies about being involved in Bain Capital through 2002, while they outsourced American jobs and continue to do so…he signed legal documents with our Securities and Exchange Commission which show he was CEO during this time….he messed up continually overseas….his money cannot control the press and I am grateful for that. He can’t stand the truth.

• • Recommend? (22)
  • Respond (0)
  • Report
  • Share

• jungist31 July 2012 5:12PM

  Corporate sponsored puppets.

  ….which pretty much explains the state of the Western world.

• • Recommend? (7)
  • Respond (1)
  • Report
  • Share

• colmnugent31 July 2012 5:14PM
  Response to OutfieldDan, 31 July 2012 5:01PM

  Hey OutfieldDan

  Are you in Romney’s press office by any chance?

  Romney hasn’t been ‘genuine’ in a single remark he’s uttered since 2004.

  He has faced in diametrically oppostite ways on every major political topic since then; the economy; healthcare, gun control; assistance for businesses; birth control – you name it.

  If Romney is a ‘breath of fresh air’ – what does a fart smell like?

• • Recommend? (37)
  • Respond (1)
  • Report
  • Share

• Lokster31 July 2012 5:14PM

  He’s a rich fool who believes there’s only one way to do something and that’s his way. He helped run a Winter Olympics in a small City in the middle of nowhere (Utah) and thinks that’s the same as running a summer games in one of the busiest and most cosmopolitan cities in the world. He’s made a lot of money so he can’t quite be as idiotic as he appears but he certainly lacks empathy and diplomacy.

  The latter doesn’t matter much in a President of the USA as large chunks of the US like it when the President does what the hell he likes and annoys all those socialist Europeans. The former matters when you’re trying to prove to an electorate you’re not an out of touch, multi-millionaire, tax dodging job destroyer but that you understand the problems people are facing. Even Cameron – an old Etonian flippertijibbit – does a better job of looking ‘in touch’ than Romney.

• • Recommend? (35)
  • Respond (0)
  • Report
  • Share

• LaurieLacey31 July 2012 5:15PM

  Romney only got the nomination because he had the money to bury his Republicans opponents. Otherwise, he was no better than the rest of the Republican hopefuls. What a sad, sad lot! Romney’s out of his class and in over his head – he’s just not Presidential material. He belongs at the State level, and that’s about it.

• • Recommend? (7)
  • Respond (0)
  • Report
  • Share

• RacingCertainty31 July 2012 5:16PM

  Romney comes across as a loudmouth, boorish, ignorant lout. That means he cannot be representative of the American people but they must be concerned about the damage he is doing to the reputation of his country abroad.

• • Recommend? (37)
  • Respond (0)
  • Report
  • Share

• achris0731 July 2012 5:16PM

  And this is with whom you want to place your fate??

• • Recommend? (3)
  • Respond (0)
  • Report
  • Share

• circuit31 July 2012 5:17PM
  Response to BlairM, 31 July 2012 5:10PM

  Unless you are some sort of Leftist who believes the Anglo American alliance is evil and that Israel is even more evil,

  $70 Billion to prove you wrong.

• • Recommend? (26)
  • Respond (0)
  • Report
  • Share

• damspahn31 July 2012 5:17PM

  Sorry, world. The Republicans seem to be reaching further down into the muck at the bottom of the barrel to find candidates. This year, they extracted a malignant narcissist instead of an openly psychotic wingnut, and that was only because he is obscenely rich. We’ll try to keep him out of your hair until November. Please keep in mind our country is populated by many weak-minded, easily deluded, lovers of ignorance, who are only too happy to feed upon the slop of the billionaires’ propaganda. So, in the end, this hopeless jerk may once again blight your fair land. As a small consolation, please keep in mind that we will have to suffer this fool’s mendacity and pitiful moronery every day until the election puts a merciful end, we hope, to this farce.

• • Recommend? (44)
  • Respond (0)
  • Report
  • Share

• OutfieldDan31 July 2012 5:18PM
  Response to wacobloke, 31 July 2012 5:04PM

  Ummmm, Barack Obama didn’t serve in the military, I believe. In America, we don’t care that Romney is a Morman, in case you didn’t know. We happen to have a tolerance for religion, a tolerance that you do not. The son of a father who was the first officer in slave labor camps? That’s a lie. Please check out George W. Romney in wickipedia so you don’t sound so uninformed and dishonest.

• • Recommend? (41)
  • Respond (5)